Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1887-06-08
THE TRUE BUSINESS.

THE True bOSINESSs
While the speeches ct the Loyal League |
last evening were brimful OF eloquence |
and patriotism and the arguments in
favor of full Gentle registration were
cogent and conclusive, as far as they
went, from the synopsis published, it
does not appear that any Of the speakers
touched upon the most important point,
namely, the effect which Gentle enthusi-
asm or apathy will have upon the action
of Congress at the next session. While
it is certainly a matter of great impor
tance that as many loyal members of the
Council and House and school officers as
possible should be elected, unless a
majority should be secured, the practical
result of the election will be barren OF
benefit to the anti-Mormon cause, so far
rs the local government OF the Territory
is concerned In other words, minority
representations in both branches OF the
Legislature and in the School Trustee
Boards will effect no practical change
in the present condition of things as re-
lating to Mormon political domination in
Utah. There are hundreds Of Gentiles
in the Territory who have refused to reg
lister for this reason. They say, sit is
useless to take the trouble to register and
vote, when the Mormons are taking the
oath in such numbers as to insure the
continuance of their power, and a few
scattering Gentle Legislators and School
trustees will be powerless to effect any
good, therefore it is as well to
let the Mormons have full swing,
taking the chances that with full
length of halter they will break
their own necks." Almost these very
words were used by prominent Gentle
to the writer yesterday, and he unques-
tionably reflected the views of very
considerable number of his brethren in
the Territory. Although this argu-
ment is a fallacious one, it is
none the less damaging to the
loyal cause, 80 long as it dictates the
action-or rather non-action-of those
who adduce it as their reason for re-
fusing to register and vote Too much
stress, therefore, cannot be given to the
importance OF full registration, for a
more important object than that directly
affecting the result Of the coming cleo
ton. Nothing but fair test of the
present law will insure better one, and
that it has been fairly tested cannot be
made apparent to the average member of
Congress, with the proof before his eyes
that considerable number Of Gentiles
in the Territory failed to avail them
selves Of the means provided for their
delivery from Mormon rule. Let it
be proven conclusively that the
means are insufficient, then we
can consistently ask for other
measures which will prove more
effective. God helps those who help
themselves, and it can hardly be ex-
pected that our National Legislature will
go further than the Almighty in bestow-
ing favors upon those who, like Esop's
carter, lie supinely on their backs,
and without first applying their own
shoulders to the wheel, below to the
gods (or Congress) to extricate their cart
from the mud. Many Congressman, who
doubtless sincerely believed that the
present law would effect the desired pur-
pose, assured Messrs. Baskin and Ben
nett, that in case it failed to meet the re-
quirements, to come again next winter,
when what they asked would be given
them. The only way to demonstrate
the necessity for further legislation is by
thoroughly testing the present law.
This can only be done by bringing out as
nearly as possible the entire Gentle vote
Of the Territory. By doing this,
defeat may be made a powerful
agent for future victory. But three more
days after this remain for registration.
Let every loyal citizen of the Territory
see that his name is on the list of voters
in his precinct. Let every GENTLE bear
in mind that every vote cast for the loyal
candidates, even though the latter are
defeated, is an additional incentive to
Congress to give US a law which will ac-
complish that for which we have so long
and vainly striven.
Since the above was in type we were
informed by a DEMOCRAT reporter that
Messrs. Mcbride and Varian each made
the point which is the subject of the
above and other articles preceding it.
Our mistake occurred from basing our
remarks concerning the supposed
commission upon the synopses Of
the speeches published in this morn
ing's issue Of the Republican organ,
which made no reference to this most
important matter. The organ evidently
desired Inappropriate the credit for having
originated the point, as it makes it in an
italicized paragraph in this mornings is
sue, in slmosg precisely the same Ian
gUEge as eAAt used in a DEMOCRAT article
more than week ago. That, however,
is all right, for The DEMOCRAT is perfectly
willing that its brain work shall be util-
lied by its morning contemporary, for the
benefit of its readers. We claim no copy
right" upon it.
FALLS BY THE WAYSIDE.